Compare towns
Ware vs Athol vs New Salem vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ware | Athol | New Salem | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
12,011Highest |
1,054Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$79,688±$19kHighest 23% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| New Salem and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$359,000±$40kHighest 36% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,194±$88Highest 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| New Salem and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,509Highest 25% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
9.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 8% below MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| New Salem and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Athol-Royalston | — | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Athol High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.